Core W

Journey through the highlights of World History

• Sweep across ancient and modern history with this one-year program.
• Learn from the past and see how each generation's choices impact the world.
• Meet a samurai warrior, Augustus Caesar, Joan of Arc, Michelangelo, Martin Luther, Napoleon and more.
• Teach with confidence: your lesson plans are already done!

Perfect for families new to Sonlight

Is this your first year of Sonlight? Do you want to help your middle schoolers discover joy in learning? This One Year World History program could be the perfect choice for you.

Most Sonlight students use our full two-year World History program (Cores G and H) at this point. Those full Cores give you a wonderful, deep study of world history. But if you are new to Sonlight and only have one year to spend on world history right now, we highly recommend Core W.

Children ages 12 and 13 appreciate Core W the most.

The goals of One Year World History

Many students who start Sonlight at this level already dread school. They find learning boring and tedious. They might think they're just bad students.

Fortunately, Core W is a wonderful introduction to the delight of learning. The approachable, winsome, gripping books gently pull kids in. Before you know it, your reluctant learners will be sneaking books off to finish ahead of schedule! After Core W, your students will be well-prepared for the fascinating challenges of Sonlight's upper-level Cores ... or whatever schooling options you may choose.

This program helps students see the connected flow of human history from creation through the present. Since history is the story of real cultures, real people, real families, real adventures, and real triumphs and defeats, there is no reason it should be boring!

I read hundreds of books and chose the very best for this Core. These stories bring long-ago times to life. They provide examples and perspective for us as we experience history being created today. They give your children a big-picture understanding of the world that any well-educated person in today's global society ought to have.

This study answers real-life questions such as: Where did the Greeks come from? How did Western history progress during the so-called Dark Ages? How did the Renaissance pave the way for the Protestant Reformation? How was Asia growing and changing during this time? Why did Colonial powers conquer so much of the world? What tensions led to the explosion of two world wars?

Core W also helps students develop critical thinking skills and understand the world today by seeing how we got where we are. The study helps them understand their own and others' cultures by seeing connections between civilizations around the world and throughout time.

What exactly is Core W?

Core W is very similar to Cores G and H, except that it is condensed into one year and relies on Hillyer's A Child's History of the World instead of Bauer's Story of the World.

We call it Core W to indicate that it is not part of the normal sequence of Sonlight Cores. Most Sonlighters progress from Cores A through H and then on to 100.

In fact, if you've done the earlier Intro to World History program (Cores B and C or B+C), you'll notice you've already used A Child's History of the World.

So why do we use the same primary history text here? Cores G and H each use two of the Story of the World volumes. But if we put all four volumes in one program they would take up all our time for history reading for Core W.

I always try to bring in a variety of voices for your history studies, so I opted for the shorter and easier-to-read A Child's History of the World here. Then I included other challenging works such as Augustus Caesar's World, The World of Columbus and Sons, and The Usborne History of the 20th Century to add different perspectives and points of interest.

Some parents worry that A Child's History of the World is too simple. "If it's used in an elementary school context, it can't possibly be valuable for more advanced students," they say.

I disagree. No college educated adult needs to apologize for reading a local newspaper (typically written at a fifth grade reading level). I think content matters far more than reading difficulty.

But I'd also point out that in Cores B and C, A Child's History of the World is too advanced for students to read on their own, so a parent reads it out loud. In Core W, students read it to themselves in one year. Especially for students who are turned-off to standard education, Hillyer's approachable, winsome style pulls them into history and gets them hooked on learning.

Included in Core W:

Instructor's Guide

With all your lesson plans and organization done for you, spend your time enjoying your children and learning with them. Let the discussion questions and great books lead to meaningful conversations about family, politics, history, faith and character. Open your guide each day to see what to read and discuss. Request the first three weeks of this guide for free.

History & Geograp

In addition to the primary texts I mentioned above, your History program includes timeline figures that pull your learning together and visually show the progression of history. You'll also find a brief but epic history of God's Kingdom and the Church.

Just as history itself is interconnected, I've created a cohesive, interconnected curriculum for you. Your History, Bible, Read-Alouds and Readers all play off each other and deepen your learning in Core W.

Bible

Equip your young teens to live out their faith. They'll learn how to study the Bible, what other religions believe and how Christianity differs. They'll prepare for the faith challenges the high school years often bring.

The broad selection of Bible readings for Core W come from the wisdom literature and minor prophets of the Old Testament, all four Gospels, and many New Testament epistles. Weekly Scripture memorization helps God's Word sink deep into students' hearts.

Read-Alouds

Treasure this special time with your teen. As you read aloud together, and/or discuss your teen's reading, you'll build memories and open lines of communication. These works let you laugh, learn and discuss important life issues. You get to:

• Live the excitement, adventure and intrigue of the Trojan war.
• Venture to Siam with an English school teacher as she experiences the beauty and brutality of this ancient paradise.
• Help a young girl save her friend from the Nazis.
• Follow God's thrilling call for Brother Andrew, who smuggles Bibles behind the Iron Curtain.

Readers

Dive deeper into history with Readers your teens are sure to love. These books give your children heroes who inspire them to become people of courage, strength and honor. Meet:

• A Hittite warrior in the time of Deborah, 200 years before King David.
• A quick-witted orphan on the quest of a lifetime in the late Middle Ages.
• A servant in Shakespeare's day whose master commands him to steal Hamlet.
• Norwegian children who courageously save $9 million worth of gold bricks in WWII (today worth over $350 million).

Excellence and character

Watch your children fall in love with learning with Core W. Simply follow the Instructor's Guide for a cohesive study full of outstanding books!